"Oh, sorry about that, I didn't notice". Feeling embarrassed, Max tried to withdraw his overwhelming aura, it took him a few moments to get the hang of it but he eventually got it under control.
Igneel was on exaggerating when he said Max was going to flatten everything on the mountain. It certainly was possible but not with him there to cancel out Max's aura.
"Agh, what's happening?!"
As soon as Max was done getting his aura under control, his body was cracked with pain, his bones making cracking sounds.
Igneel was about to make his move to block the dantian again when he noticed it. Not to mention he didn't think he could still seal it at that point.
The reason why Max was going through so much pain this time was because his body was trying to catch up. The thing is that normally a person upgrades stage by stage, each stage also strengthens the body.
But Max basically skipped all that and his power level rose to the peak, leading the situation were his body is being forcefully upgraded at once. The process might have even been more painful than when his dantian was the problem.
After like an hour of none stop cracking of bones and wriggling of his skin, backed by pain like no other, Max finally felt the pain slowly go away.
"Aaaaagh!"
Just as he was about to breath out a sigh of relief...his dantian became the problem...it was also upgrading. It also wasn't up to par.
"Well son, this was your idea after all". Igneel just looked on with worry and tried to make Max angry with his statement so that the pain could be more bearable.
After another two hours this time, his dantian caught up as well.
"Is there anything else that needs an upgrade?...go ahead bring it on!". Max shouted in frustration from the unexpected three hours of pain.
After a minute of nothing happening, his adrenaline ran out and his eyes got heavy until he fell into a deep sleep from the exhaustion.
"You did well son, rest for now"
"This damn brat, did he just catch up to my five centuries of work in a few hours?...were am I supposed to put my face as a father now, sigh". Although Igneel seemed like he was complaining at the end, the proud grin on his face suggested otherwise.
"So the prophecy from those trash humans was true after all, I still wish I could destroy them though, but I don't want to be dead when Grace wakes up"
.....
When the dark clouds were still in the sky.
Just a few kilometres away from the source(Max). The five elder beasts who served Igneel could be seen standing together looking forward. They were all in their human forms, as like Igneel they were devine beasts so could assume human form.
Their power level was on the level of the demon dukes yet to come. They were at the stage were one needed to link their dantian and soul. The process wasn't as easy as a monster like Max made it seem. Normal people needed some enlightenment to cross the bridge.
This was because not many were that good at controlling their soul in normal situations. Although the difference between the two stages seems to be just one step. The difference between their power level is basically the same as them and a normal person with little to no mana at all.
Their true forms were a flame bird with the bloodline of a phoenix that was the second strongest after Igneel, named Caroline.
A white deer that was the healing expert who Igneel sort out before to try and heal Grace and the baby, named Mary.
A white tiger, which was the third strongest, named Abel.
An eight-tailed fox, specializing in illusion and wind magic, named Iliana.
And a black snake which was specialized in dark magic, named Ron. Despite it's sketchy appearance it was actually Igneel's right hang and most loyal subordinate.
"Do you think the king is breaking through again?. Abel curiously asked.
"Well I hope not, we are still far from catching up as it is". Caroline replied with worry.
"Well it doesn't really matter how strong he is to us since his strength won't be pointed at us". Iliana added while yawning.
"That makes sense". Mary agreed with her.
"I think it's the young prince who broke through". Ron said with a serious expression on his face, his snake eyes that remained the same even in his human form remained unblinking as he looked forward. He was more sensitive to aura so he could sense that although the aura somewhat resembled Igneel's, it wasn't.
"Bullshit!, he's only five" ×4.
The other four elders shouted while looking at him like he was a madman.
....
At the same time in the human territory...
"What's with those clouds originating from the forest....do you think it's him and he's ready for revenge?" The king asked his advisor with worry on his face.
"I doubt it your majesty, his oath to the heavens would kill him then. I think he's just doing something that has nothing to do with us. It would make no sense to wait for five years after all". The advisor replied after giving it some thought.
"I hope you're right, sigh, why did I even agree to that plan, now I'm the most restless out of everyone being so close to the monster."
.....
Back on the mountain...
Max, still had not woken up and didn't look like he was going to wake up any time soon.
"This kid is going to be the death of me"
"I can even feel that the hard part of this training is yet to start"
"Sigh, why did my genes have to be so great to make such a monster...well I guess Grace helped a little too"
"I wonder if he'll destroy the mountain when we start practical training in a few days...come to think of it, I don't know his elements yet, well there's lightning of course but maybe there's more"
"Seems I hyped myself up again.... Son I hope you're just as amazing then"
"Hahahaha, even if I have to lose more hair I don't mind"